Following the first day of the NHL’s board of governors meetings on Thursday afternoon, Bettman said there was “strong negative sentiment” among the league’s owners on NHL players attending the PyeongChang Games in 2018.

Bettman said the belief among some owners was that the Olympics had run their course for the league and hadn’t provided a big picture boost to the league in non-North American locales.

That, along with the brief season shutdown, injury risk and compressed schedule made it unappealing to the league, more so if the IOC refused to cover out-of-pocket expenses as had been suggested by president Thomas Bach.

You've probably noticed, but hockey also isn't the most diverse sport. It also isn't the most popular in North America. It has its huge following in Canada, but many believe the thing that is holding the sport back in the United States is its lack of inclusivity, and that a combination of economics and access to the sport are the main factors explaining why the sport continues to be overwhelmingly white. But community leaders and the NHL have a plan to try and reverse that.

"I think it's about kids here seeing that it's actually possible. They've never seen a hockey stick before," (Jamal) Mayers says. "It's the same principles as any of the 'ball' sports, like soccer and basketball. You're creating two on one's all over the place. It's important that we did this the right way. We can't just put kids on the ice and say 'Let's play hockey.' They have to get comfortable holding a stick."

Even though Mayers, now in his second year as the Blackhawks Community Liaison, grew up in a city with kids from diverse backgrounds, he recognizes how hard it can be for some of those kids to get to a rink. The NHL has footprints in many of America's major cities through their teams, and with new programs, they're trying to bring the game to a wider audience in hopes of growing new fans and also future prospects as well....

NEW YORK (December 8, 2016) -- National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly today released the following statement regarding the office actions issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on
the applications to register the name Vegas Golden Knights:

“We are currently reviewingý the Trademark Office's letter and will prepare a detailed response demonstrating why we continue strongly to believe the Vegas Golden Knights mark should be registered in co-existence with the college registration, just as a number of other nicknames currently co-exist in professional and college sports (particularly where there is no overlap as to the sport for which the nickname is being used). That response is not due until June 7, 2017.

“We consider this a routine matter and it is not our intention to reconsider the name or logo of this franchise. We fully intend to proceed as originally planned, relying on our common law trademark rights as well as our state trademark registrations while we work through the process of addressing the question raised in the federal applications.”

So what does Matthews have over Laine? Is he a better skater? On the whole, yes. Matthews is also more physically mature and closer to his athletic peak.

Laine’s upper body features pipe cleaners rather than pipes. His frame is unfinished. He’s skinny. His upside in terms of speed and power are difficult to ascertain, but he will improve and close the gap with Matthews.

Matthews has loads of game. He’s going to be a star. Laine, however, has more wattage despite playing in a small market in comparison to Toronto.

In the end, this will be about the highest of ranges. They’re two great players trying to climb into the rarest of air.

Matthews was No. 1 in the draft, but Laine will prove to be No. 1 in rarity.

How has goaltending changed compared to when you first started your career?

CORY SCHNEIDER: I came in the league with some of the guys at the end of the past generation, but I’ve also been around for some of the newer techniques and technologies and younger goalies. Just from what I’ve seen, the technique today is so good. Kids are learning this stuff at six, seven, eight years old, and they’re playing year round, and their technique is almost impeccable. I watch guys come into the league now, and they all seem to play like Carey Price.

ROBERTO LUONGO: If I still played the way I did back in the day, I wouldn’t be in the NHL anymore. You have to evolve with the time and the position and the new techniques that come out every year.

DOMINIK HASEK: I see a big change with the sliding. I wasn’t a sliding goalie. I was a butterfly goalie, but I was more up and down. Quickly down, quickly up. Today it seems the goalies look lazy, but they are not lazy. The style can look like that. They’re on their knees even when the puck is behind they net. They don’t go quickly up. They stay on one knee. My goalie coach told me it started in the ’90s in Finland. Through the sliding you cover the lower part of the net unbelievably, much better than we did as a group as goalies in the ’90s.

KARLSSON BECOMES ALL-TIME LEADER AMONG SENATORS DEFENSEMENErik Karlsson (1-2—3) factored on three Senators goals, including an assist on the game-winning goal with 1:06 left in regulation, to power the club to its sixth win in its past nine games (6-2-1) and become the franchise leader in points by a defenseman.

* Karlsson, a first round selection (15th overall) by the Senators in the 2008 NHL Draft, registered his 410th, 411th and 412th career points (107-305—412) to eclipse Wade Redden (101-309—410) for top spot among Ottawa defensemen. Karlsson did so while playing in his 506th career game – 332 fewer contests than Redden (838 GP) played with the Senators.

* Via Elias, Karlsson is one of two active defensemen to lead his current team in career points by a blueliner (also Dustin Byfuglien w/ WPG/ATL).